Jordanian national Abu Musab al-Zarqawi wanted to participate in the Soviet-Afghan war. He traveled to Afghanistan but the Soviet troops have already departed from the said country at the time of his arrival. He returned to his own country not long after but eventually traveled back to Afghanistan.

In 1999, al-Zarqawi established an Islamic militant camp near the province of Herat. His group was called Jama?at al-Tawhid wa-al-Jihad which translates into Organization of Monotheism and Jihad. His followers were mostly composed of Jordanian and other Sunni Jihadist militants.

Al-Zarqawi held extremist beliefs. He considered the Kingdom of Jordan as un-Islamic and intended to overthrow it. His group soon gained notoriety in the early phases of the Iraqi insurgency for their actions. They were known for suicide bombings and mortar attacks. They also launched attacks using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, planted improvised explosive devices, kidnapped people and beheaded them. They were known to post video recordings of their activities on the Internet.

The Iraqi Shia Muslims, Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish religious and political figures, and Iraqi interim officials were the usual targets of the group?s activities. It was also not uncommon for humanitarian and United Nations workers as well as foreign civilian contractors to become victims of the group?s actions.

Tanzim Qa?idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn

In October 2004, al-Zarqawi pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden and his group became officially affiliated to al-Qaeda. By this time, the group changed its name to Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn which means Organization of Jihad?s Base in Mesopotamia. It was also known as al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).

The group?s operation against American convoys, civilians, Iraqi government and security forces as well as foreign soldiers and diplomats. They also planned to remove US forces from Iraq and take control of it, clash with the country?s secular neighbors, establish Islamic authority as a caliphate and create a conflict with Israel.

The US launched Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah the following month to target the leaders of AQI, but the latter managed to escape safely from the siege.

AQI declared an all-out war against Shia Muslims in Iraq in November 2005. Signs of a conflict between the local Iraqi Sunni Arab rebel groups also emerged. The former wanted to restore the Sunni influence in the national government which was opposed by the latter as they were aiming for a theocratic government. Al-Zarqawi also stated that they will kill the people who will participate in national politics together with the Kurds and Shiites.

Mujahideen Shura Council

In January 2006, AQI wanted Iraqi Sunni secular and nationalist groups to join their militant organization. However, the latter were discouraged to do so due to AQI?s fundamentalist doctrine and violent attacks against civilians. In an attempt to provide AQI with a local flavor, the group created an umbrella organization called Majlis Shura al-Mujahideen fi al-Iraq or Mujahideen Shura Council.

The council was formed from the union of AQI and five other insurgent groups namely Jaish al-Tai?fa al-Mansurah, al-Ahwal Brigades, Katbiyan Ansar al-Tawhid wal Sunnah, al-Ghuraba Brigades and Saray al-Jihad Group. They also encouraged other Sunni Muslim tribal leaders to join the organization in order to protect their people and religion and prevent strife and bloodshed among them.

However, al-Zarqawi and his spiritual adviser Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman perished in an airstrike by American warplanes on June 6, 2006. An Egyptian militant named Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who was also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, replaced al-Zarqawi as the leader of the group.

In September 2006, the militant group was met with resistance from tribal leaders in Anbar province. The tribal leaders were encouraged to lead an open war campaign against the militant group by salaries and cash gifts from the Iraqi government. In September 2006, a number of tribes and sub-clans formed alliances against AQI with the main purpose of expelling AQI from the Anbar province. By the end of the month, the independent Iraqi tribes were able to achieve their aim.

A group called the Mutayibeen Coalition was formed in October 12, 2006. It was composed of the Mujahideen Shura Council, Jund Al-Sahaba, Kataib Ansar Al-Tawhid wal-Sunna, Jaysh Al-Fatihin and six other Anbar Sunni tribes that were alleged to be loyal to the militant group.

The Mujahideen Shura Council was officially disbanded in November 2006 in favour of the Islamic State of Iraq.

Islamic State of Iraq (ISI)

The Mujahideen Shura Council and its allies established the Islamic State of Iraq in October 2006. It planned to establish a Sunni caliphate that would encompass most of the places located in western and central Iraq where most Sunni Arabs reside such as Baghdad, Wasit, Anbar, Salaheddin, Babel, Dyala, Niniveh and Kirkuk.

Its goals were practically the same with that of its predecessor, AQI. Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was its emir or leader while Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who was the leader of AQI, became a military commander and eventually, a Minister of War. Another prominent member of the group was Abdullah al-Janabi who was the group?s Minster of Security.

Offensive attacks were launched continuously against the ISI. Numerous high-level members were either killed or captured in the Iraq War troop surge in 2007. The group were also expelled from their military bases in Anbar, Baghdad, and Diyala. The number of its members also declined in 2008 due to its violent attempts in governance which alienated Sunni Arab Iraqis and other insurgent groups.

Omar al-Baghdadi and al-Masri were killed in a raid conducted by the combined US and Iraqi forces in April 2010. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi assumed the leadership of the group with Abu Abdallah al-Husseini al-Qurashi acting as his deputy.

Jabhat al-Nusra

When the protests against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad escalated into a civil war, ISI sent its experienced members to Syria to establish a militant group. Abu Muhammad al-Julani established Jabhat al-Nusra li Ahl As-Sham or The Support Front for the People of Al-Sham. Its members were primarily composed of Syrian jihadists.

More commonly known as the al-Nusra Front, it aims to overthrow the current Syrian government and replace it with an Islamic emirate under sharia law. A top ranking official named Sami al-Oraydi stated that the group was primarily influenced by the teachings of Abu Musab al-Suri, an Al-Qaeda member. These include providing services to people, maintaining strong relationships with other fighting groups and local communities, avoiding being seen as extremists and focusing on fighting the government. However, the group has been known to commit acts that go against these teachings.

The group adopted a new set of goals in 2015. They decided to integrate their movements better within the Syrian revolution and its people, cease any activity related to attacking the West, closely coordinate with all Islamic groups, find strategic places in the country and convert these into al-Qaeda bases as well as help establish a sharia judicial court system all throughout Syria.

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Al-Baghdadi declared in April 2013 that ISI and the al-Nusra Front will be merging and that the new group will be called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Al-Julani complained that nobody consulted the leaders of the al-Nustra Front regarding the merger and denied it, which resulted in some tension between the groups.

Al-Qaeda?s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri intervened to diffuse the conflict and ruled against the merger. However, al-Baghdadi rejected al-Zawahiri?s ruling and declared that the merger will push through. The group then proceeded to conduct prison raids to free their captured members particularly in Abu Ghraib and Taji.

Al-Zawahiri instructed al-Baghdadi to disband ISIS and let the al-Nustra Front lead the operations on Syria. Al-Baghdadi refused to heed al-Zawahiri?s ruling and continued their war efforts. As a result, al-Qaeda cut its ties with ISIS after about eight months of power struggle between the two leaders.

The organization proclaimed itself as a worldwide caliphate in June 2014 with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its caliph. He became known as Amir al-Mu?minin or Caliph Ibrahim among his followers.

Baghdadi declares the merger of Al-Qaeda in Iraq and al-Nustra Front to create a large organization named Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The administration of al-Nustra rejected the declaration and a conflict between the leaders of ISIS and Al-Qaeda arose.

January 2014

Several rebel groups, together with the al-Nustra Front, defeated and expelled ISIS fighters from various towns and cities. On the other hand, ISIS gained control over Fallujah and Ramadi in Iraq which were previously considered as Sunni strongholds. While the Iraqi government was able to regain control of Ramadi, Fallujah remained under the group?s rule all throughout the year.

June 2014

Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, fell under control of ISIS. This can be considered as an unexpected and enormous blow to the Iraqi government since the city is a major player in the country?s oil industry. They robbed banks and took control over military and government buildings, airports and police stations. Sunni insurgents who were imprisoned were released by the group from prison.

Together with other Sunni groups, ISIS conquered the province of Tikrit where Iraq?s largest oil facility was located. As the group conquered other areas, Iraq?s senior Shiite religious leader named Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani requested all Iraqis to fight ISIS. Thousands of Shiites heeded the call but were brutally defeated and massacred by the group.

As time progressed, ISIS continued to gain more territories in the western and northern parts of the country, which forced other nations to take action. The US, for example, deployed 300 military advisers to Iraq but refused to send dedicated combat units.

July 2014

ISIS declared itself as an Islamic State with the provinces of Nineveh and Anbar as its caliphate.

August 2014

The group announced that Christians in Mosul who refused to convert to Islam would be killed. The provinces of Sinjar, Wana, and Zumar fell under their control and threatened to exterminate Yazidis who they consider as heretics. As a result, almost all members of these religious and minority groups fled from the places under ISIS rule. The militants then proceeded to loot the vacant houses for jewelry, money and other personal effects.

The US government authorized air strikes in Iraq to protect its citizens and facilities. They also dropped medicines and food to the stranded Yazidis in Mount Sijar.

A graphic video which showed the beheading of American James Fowley was released by ISIS. It was done as retaliation against the air strikes that were conducted by US. Fowley was a journalist who was abducted in Syria in 2012. The group threatened to kill another American hostage if the air strikes continued.

About two weeks later, another video surfaced which revealed the beheading of Steven Sotloff, another American journalist who went missing in Syria in 2013. ISIS gained control of Aleppo province.

Several Syrian rebel groups started to condemn ISIS and its brutal acts. Leaders of Ahrar al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army were said to be killed by ISIS. Al-Qaeda also cut its ties from the group due to their attacks against other Muslims.

September 2014

David Cawthorne Haines, a British aid worker, was the third person who was beheaded by ISIS. Women were treated brutally and rape was used by the group as weapon in war. Young girls were also forcefully married to the militants. Iraqi lawyer Sameera Salih Ali al-Nuaimy, an advocate for women?s rights, was tortured and publicly executed.

The militant organization continued to gain territories in the northern parts of Iraq. Schools were forced to adopt a strict Islamic curriculum and the group established a religious police force called the ?Islamic Police of the Islamic State of Iraq?.

Sixty countries including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar joined the campaign against ISIS. The group?s training camps and bases in Raqqah were the primary targets of the Arab-led air strikes.

ISIS suffered defeats from Kurdish forces called pesh merga and from a coalition of Shiite militia who were assisted by the air strikes. As a result, ISIS lost territories in Iraq such as Kirkuk and Daquq.

October 2014

The Kurdish town Kobani was sieged by ISIS which caused its inhabitants to flee to Turkey. The massive exodus created a humanitarian crisis which caused Turkey to close its border with Syria. The militant group also killed Alan Henning, a British taxi driver who provided help to Syrian refugees.

Prime Minister Abadi attempted to reconcile with Sunnis. This gesture prompted them to fight against ISIS together with Shiite militia and freed the Diyala province.

November 2014

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, a militant organization based in Egypt, swore its allegiance to ISIS. This expanded the group?s network and increased its available resources. American Peter Kassig, founder of the Special Emergency Response and Assistance Program who provided assistance to refugees, was killed by the militants.

January 2015

In Paris, Amedy Coulibaly held hostages at a supermarket. Although he was killed, four other hostages perished as well. A video was released after his death which showed him swearing allegiance to ISIS. The militant organization continued to use social media and the internet to spread propaganda and recruit members.

Kobani was liberated from ISIS by the Kurds with the help of air strikes. On the other hand, three jihadist groups in Libya swore their allegiance to ISIS.

February 2015

Twenty-one Egyptian Coptic Christians were beheaded by militant groups affiliated with ISIS. The Egyptian government responded by bombing a weapons cache located in Derna.

The US proposes to launch a three-year campaign against ISIS. It included limited ground troops and airstrikes but excluded participation in offensive ground combat activities.

March 2015

Boko Haram, an Islamist group that is based in Nigeria, swore allegiance to ISIS. On the other hand, Shiite militias together with Iraqi troops and Sunni fighters defeated ISIS and expelled them from Tikrit. It was considered to be a strategic and symbolic victory for the Iraqi troops as they were able to accomplish this feat without the help of air strikes.

May 2015

Ramadi in Iraq and Palmyra in Syria both fell under ISIS rule. The militants also killed at least 20 Ethiopian workers in Libya who were believed to be Christians.

August 2015

Air strikes were continually launched by the US from Turkey.

The Temple of Baalshamin, a well-preserved 5th century Roman Catholic monastery, and other important antiquities in Palmyra were destroyed by ISIS. They also killed the former director of antiquities Khaled Asaad after allegedly torturing him for additional information regarding undiscovered treasures in the ancient city.

September 2015

Fifty-seven people at mosques were killed in two separate suicide bombing incidents in Yemen. This act was done by a militant group that was affiliated to ISIS.

Towards the end of the month, an Italian aid worker was shot and killed in Dhaka. This was followed by the death of a Japanese man in Bangladesh less than a week later. Both deaths were claimed to be done by ISIS.

October 2015

More than a hundred people were killed in two coordinated explosions which happened during a rally for peace in Ankara. The Turkish government placed the blame on ISIS for this terrorist attack which was considered to be the worst one in the country?s history.

A Russian passenger plane was bombed. A jet that took off from Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt crashed after being airborne for 20 minutes, taking the lives of 224 people on board.

An ISIS affiliate group in Egypt called Sinai Province of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for both acts.

November 2015

ISIS launched three coordinated attacks in Paris. Eighty-nine people perished in the attack at the Bataclan concert hall and dozens more were killed in the attacks in a soccer stadium and in restaurants. A total of 129 people perished and hundreds were wounded. As a result, President Francois Hollande of France took revenge by launching air strikes on Raqqah.

December 2015

Tashfeen Malik swore her allegiance to ISIS on Facebook. A short time after, she and her husband Syed Rizwan Farook launched an attack on a social services center in San Bernardino, California. Fourteen people perished in the attack and 21 others suffered injuries. Iraqi strengths retake a focal government complex in Ramadi, saw as the last real obstacle in the push to remove ISIS from the city.

January 2016

An attack was launched on Istanbul in which ISIS claimed responsibility for it. This led up to the death of up to 10 people. Turkey responded back by killing over 200 ISIS militants.

ISIS is primarily a Wahhabi or Salafi group. They have an extremist interpretation of Islam which regards Muslims who disagree with their teachings as infidels and views religious violence as an acceptable act. The group condemns the Ottoman Empire and succeeding caliphates for deviating from the true Islam and aims to revert it back to the earlier days. It also aims to establish a caliphate government which follows a strict Salafist doctrine.

Apocalypticism and Eschatology

The group?s beliefs regarding apocalypticism and eschatology separate it from other jihadist and Islamist movements. ISIS believes that the arrival of Imam Mahdi and the final Day of Judgement by God are drawing near. They also claim that only four more legitimate caliphs will follow al-Baghdadi based on their interpretation of the Hadith of the Twelve Successors.

The Islamic eschatology and apocalypticism were discussed in the Quran and hadith. These scriptures also provide the major and minor signs that the Day of Judgement is already drawing near. The minor signs include, but are not limited to, the following:

?Reverence and fearfulness of God will disappear while tribulations will occur.

?People will respect a man due to their fear that he may inflict harm on them.

?Everyone will claim to be an apostle of Allah.

?The worst person will become the leader of the people.

?Living people will envy the dead and wish death upon themselves.

?Disrespectful acts will be observed inside the mosques.

?Dishonesty will become prevalent and unworthy people will be given authority.

?A man will choose to heed his wife and friend instead obeying of his parents.

?Knowledge will be taken away and religious ignorance will become commonplace.

?People will become miserly.

?Unexpected and sudden deaths will occur more frequently.

?The traditions of the hadith will be disregarded by Muslim leaders themselves.

?Killing will spread and time will accelerate.

?Nobody will obey the teachings of Islam and Quran even if they were passed on to the next generation.

?The teachings of the hadith will be rejected by the people.

?Nations will cooperate with one another and use any means necessary to destroy Islamic values, teachings, culture and people.

?Usury, adultery and drinking of alcohol will become more prevalent.

?The worst kinds of people are the only ones who are left in the world.

?Music will become widespread but condoned.

?People who are honest and honorable will perish while those who are not will remain.

?The decoration of mosques becomes a competition among men.

?It will become necessary for a woman to immerse herself in her husband?s business because trade will spread worldwide.

?There will be a decrease in the number of men whereas the number of women will increase.

?People of distinction will no longer be treated with the respect that they deserve.

?Earthquakes and thunderbolts will occur more often.

?Disgrace, defamation and distortion will become widespread.

?Humans will be able to communicate with wild animals.

?Death will become more preferable due to the severe suffering that people experience.

?Evil people will be removed from Al-Madinah.

?There will be a conflict between Muslims and Jews.

?Little vegetation will grow despite the abundance of rain.

?People will find it a burden to pay for charity.

?More people will earn money from illegal means.

?Extremely tall buildings will be constructed by nomads.

?Majority of the people will be composed of Romans.

?Women will seem to be naked even if they have clothes on.

?Arabian territory will return to being a land of fields and rivers.

?Astray and misguided scholars will be the primary sources of knowledge.

?People will become estranged from Islam.

?The honest are branded as liars and traitors whereas the dishonest are believed.

?A mountain of gold will appear in the Euphrates.

?Knowledgeable and righteous people will perish.

?Polytheism and idolatry will become prevalent in communities.

?Obscenity and enmity will become prevalent among relatives and neighbors.

On the other hand, the major signs marking the end of days are as follows:

?There will appear a false messiah named Masih ad-Dajjal or else known as the Anti-Christ who will cause many people to stray from the right path.

?Jesus or Isa will descend from the sky to defeat Dajjal.

?Two vicious tribes called Ma?jooj and Ya?jooj will escape from their imprisonment, destroy the Earth and kill the faithful believers of Allah. They will eventually perish due to worms and disease sent by Allah.

?The earth will be covered by a black smoke cloud.

?The Beast called Dabbat al-ard will emerge from the ground and communicate with people.

?Sunrise will occur in the west.

?Sinking of the earth will occur in the lands situated in the east, west and Arabia.

?The dead will be resurrected and a fire originating from Yemen will gather everyone for judgment.

Other events that will serve as signals for the Day of Judgment are:

?A nation whose people are wearing shoes made out of hair will wage a war against the Muslims. They would have red complexion, faces like hammered shields, and small eyes. (referring to the mongols)

?The Sufyani will rise within the Syrian region.

?Every creature in earth and heaven will perish except for what Allah wills. Silence will reign over the land for an undetermined amount of time.

?The Muslims and Christians will fight against a common enemy. After its conclusion, war technology will become obsolete and a conflict between Muslims and non- Muslims will occur.

?People will fornicate in the streets indiscriminately.

?The Black Standard will emerge from Khorasan and will not return until it is raised in Jerusalem.

?People will cease to understand and follow Islamic teachings.

?The Kaaba will be destroyed as a result of an attack on Mecca.

?A south breeze will cause all believers to perish peacefully.

?No one will remember the teachings and verses of Quran.

?There will be a succession crisis. The people of Makkah will persuade and support a man from Makkah to accept the Bai?aa.

ISIS has also used the emphasis on eschatology and apocalypticism as a recruiting pitch for foreign fighters. The prophecies appear credible due to the civil wars raging in Syria and Iraq. Thus, foreign fighters were enticed by the idea of being present in the lands where the final apocalyptic battles will occur.

Goals

The militant group?s primary goal is the establishment of a Sunni Islamic State. It aims to become a worldwide caliphate which will have authority over and require allegiance of all Muslims. They are also aiming to conquer and purify the world by killing all people who do not believe in their interpretation of the Sharia law, regardless of religion.

Having proclaimed it to be another Caliphate, and al-Baghdadi to be the new Caliph, ISIL has announced backing for itself compulsory for all Muslims. Al-Baghdadi has proclaimed, “We illuminate the Muslims that, with the declaration of the caliphate, it has gotten to be mandatory for all Muslims to give Bay’ah and bolster him”, and “O Muslims in all spots. Those who can immigrate to the Islamic State, let him emigrate. For resettlement to the Abode of Islam is obligatory ?This remain constant for all other jihadi gatherings including Al-Qaeda which (ISIL accepts) has lost its purpose behind existing autonomously.

ISIS also aims to defend the places that are currently under its control from enemy forces while at the same time, expand its territories. They highly encourage local militant groups to consolidate their power and reward them with training and additional resources in order to increase their effectiveness in combat.

In addition to this, they also aim to establish friendly relations with local militant groups. In this way, they will be able to establish global and regional networks that they can use in their military and recruitment operations. The local jihadist groups could also help them in expanding their territories and subduing the local populace.

The group utilizes cyber attacks and terrorism to destroy the existing political system. These activities serve as distractions as it prevents countries from focusing on attacking their main stronghold in Syria and Iraq.

Violence

ISIS has been noted for what some have called “shocking” or “stunning” brutality,its arrival of recordings and photos of executions, shootings, confined detainees being smoldered alive or submerged bit by bit until suffocated. Among different impacts, the gathering’s mass killings and publicizing of them prompted a split in the middle of it and Al Qaeda.

ISIL’s viciousness is “not some offbeat, crazed zeal, but rather an extremely ponder, considered technique”, as indicated by some analysts,who regularly cite a 2004 work distributed online entitled Management of Savagery, which is depicted by a few writers and experts as powerful to ISIL, and expected to give a system to make another Islamic caliphate

Administration of Savagery attests that “one who beforehand occupied with jihad realizes that it is nothing yet viciousness, roughness, terrorism, prevention and slaughtering.” While “savage mayhem” is obnoxious it must be recollected that even “the most odious of the levels of brutality” are better “than dependability under the request of unbelief,” i.e. any administration other than ISIL.

One onlooker has depicted ISIL’s publicizing of its mass executions and murdering of regular citizens as a feature of “a cognizant arrangement intended to ingrain among adherents a feeling of implying that is sacrosanct and great, while terrifying the damnation out of wall sitters and foes.” Another portrays it reason as to “break” mentally those under its control “to guarantee their supreme fidelity through trepidation and intimidation”, while producing “inside and out contempt and retribution” by its adversaries.

By al Khoei, the focal significance of the rebuilding of the caliphate of ahead of schedule Islam to ISIL’s theory is symbolized by the Black Standard ISIS has embraced, a variation of the fanciful fight banner of Muhammad (P.B.U.H) showing the Seal of Muhammad (P.B.U.H) inside of a white circle, with the expression above it, “There is no God however Allah”.

Without a caliphate, there can be no hostile jihad, as indicated by customary Islamic law. By evangelist Anjem Choudary, “Until now, we were simply guarding ourselves,” however now ISIL can battle to the persuasive venture into nations that are ruled by non-Muslims. Pursuing of war to extend the caliphate is a crucial obligation of the caliph, so as per its ideological supporters like Anjem Choudary, ISIL is permitted to battle obnoxiously as well as prohibited not to.

On Women

The group also published documents regarding the role of women. They believe that women are destined to live a sedentary life of motherhood at home. They encourage females to adopt a supportive role (i.e. cooking, sewing, and nursing) for the members of the group.

ISIS puts a huge importance on marriage and family life on women. They expect the latter to become good wives of their members and refrain from taking up arms except when called on by religious leaders due to lack of male fighters. Female doctors, nurses and teachers can also be exempted from staying at home.

For the group, females should finish formal schooling by the age of 15 and their education should be limited to religious matters such as Islamic law. ISIS condemns feminism as worthless and a burden for women. In addition, they believe that the blurring of the line between sexes prevents people from worshiping God properly and emasculates men.

ISIS is currently led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi together with Abu Muslim al-Turkmani and Abu Ali al-Anbari, the deputy leaders for Iraq and Syria, respectively. Beneath them are 12 local governors in Syria and Iraq as well as councils on finance, media, leadership, intelligence, military matters, assistance for foreign fighters, security and legal matters. The group also has its own shura council to ensure that all decisions made by the councils and governors adhere to their interpretations of the sharia.

The city of Al-Raqqah in Syria currently serves as the group?s capital. After subduing its inhabitants, ISIS has created a system of governance in the city. Government employees were allowed to retain their positions after pledging their allegiance to the group. Institutions were restructured, welfare services were provided, roads were repaired and prices were controlled. The group has also imposed taxes on the affluent and conducts religious lectures and proselytising for the local people. The electrical and water supply were both maintained through the Al-Raqqah dam.

Human Resources

ISIS is comprised mostly of Iraqis and Syrians but foreign fighters are also present within the group. There are more than 500 fighters each from countries like Tunisia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Indonesia, Jordan, United Kingdom, Morocco, Libya, France, Germany, Turkey and Lebanon.

In addition, not all recruits become combatants. Some of them end up doing everyday tasks such as cleaning toilets or drawing water from wells. Use of mobile phones is also strictly prohibited especially during military training sessions.

Finances

ISIS?s primary source of revenue comes from the proceeds of the occupied territory such as taxation, robbery of economic assets, extortions and control of banks, gas and oil reservoirs. About 300 oil wells in Iraq and 60% of Syria?s total production capacity have fallen under control of the group. They also sell electric power from Syrian power plants that they have captured as a way to generate money.

They also sell antiques and artifacts from important historical sites that are under their control such as the 9th century BC palace of the Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud. In addition, the group requires Christians and foreigners in places under their rule to pay taxes called jiyza. They also extort money from businesses. They participate in the illegal drug trade and rob gold shops and banks.

They also get funds through kidnapping for ransom, donations from sympathetic countries such as Saudi Arabia, material support given by foreign fighters and fundraising programs conducted through modern communication networks.

ISIS declared its intentions to establish its own monetary system in November 2014. Designs of the proposed gold, bronze and silver coins accompanied the announcement which consisted of images of the map of the world, Jerusalem?s Al-Aqsa Mosque, a sword and a shield as well as a crescent moon. After this declaration, the group proceeded to purchase precious metals from traders in the area. However, the coins that were released were reported to be worth less than their value in precious metal.

Territorial claims

ISIS has proclaimed itself to be a worldwide caliphate which supposedly gives them political, military and religious authority over all Muslims. In addition, their group claims to have precedence over any existing emirate, state, group or organization in a place that has fallen under their rule. They reject political systems that were established by Western powers and require pre-existing militant groups to submit to their rule.

The militant group has also established provinces in several countries. However, before they can formally a certain region as one of their provinces, existing jihadist movements operating in the same area should become a unified body and pledge their allegiance to ISIS. Afterwards, they would have to nominate a governor, establish a shura council and create a military strategy to gain control over the territory. Once done, they would have to propagate the ISIS?s interpretation of the Sharia law.

Syria and Iraq

ISIS claims authority over 9 Syrian provinces namely Al Barakah, Ladhikiyah, Al Khayr, Damascus, Raqqah, Hamah, Homs, Idlib and Halab as well as over the Iraqi provinces of Baghdad, Babil, Al Anbar, Ninawa, Sala al-Din, Diyala and Kirkuk. The group has also established new provinces such as al-Furat, Dijla, Fallujah and al-Jazeera in the region.

Libya

The group also asserts their command over three major historical provinces in Libya namely Fezzan, Cyrenaica or Barqa and Tripolitania or Tarabalus. They previously held control over the city of Derna but they were overthrown by rival militants. ISIS then captured the city of Sirte and used it as a stronghold to capture nearby towns such as Nofaliya and Harawa.

Egypt and Algeria

A militant group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis that operates in Egypt has sworn allegiance to ISIS. The group has then established the Sinai province in the country and conducted a series of bombings.

ISIS has also laid claim on Algeria since they gained the allegiance of the Algerian Militant group named Jund al-Khilafah. They became infamous in 2014 when they beheaded Herve Gourdel who was a French tourist. The group?s activities in the region have lessened which led to reports that their leader perished in a skirmish with Algerian forces in December 2014.

Saudi Arabia

ISIS has declared Saudi Arabia as a province in November 2014. In addition, the group has condemned the reigning royal family for participating in a coalition against ISIS and called on the populace to oust them. The activities of the group in the country were carried out under the names of Hejaz and Najd Province.

Yemen

The group has also claimed authority over Yemen but this was rejected by a rival militant group in the country called Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or AQAP. As the Yemeni Civil War progressed, seven ISIS branches such as Hadhramaut Province, Sana?a Province and Shabwah Province attacked Houthis.

Shi?a Houthis are the primary enemies of the ISIS in the country. The group has been relatively successful in its campaigns against the militant group in Yemen.

Khorasan Province

ISIS has grouped Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other adjacent lands into one province which was called Khorasan. The group appointed Hafiz Saeed Khan as the region?s governor whereas Abdul Rauf took the position as deputy. Although there were reports stating that both men were killed in different offensives against the group, there were also stories stating otherwise.

Nigeria

The leader of the militant group Boko haram named Abubakar Shekau gave his allegiance to the ISIS. He was enthusiastically welcomed by Abu Mohammad al-Adnani who viewed it as a means to expand the caliphate to West Africa.

North Caucasus

ISIS has claimed authority over the entire Caucasus, particularly on Dagestan and Chechnya. Commanders of Caucasus Emirate, a militant group in the region, has sworn their allegiance to ISIS and Rustam Asildarov, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Qadari became the governor.

Europe

ISIS has also expressed their intention to conquer Spain, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Military Strength

Starting mid 2015, columnist Mary Anne Weaver evaluates that half of ISIL warriors are comprised of nonnatives. An UN report evaluated a sum of 15,000 warriors from more than 80 nations in ISIL’s positions as of November 2014. US insight assessed an expansion to around 20,000 outside warriors in February 2015, including 3,400 from Western nations. Now the current estimation total is minimum 53000 and maximum 260 000. Most of their militants are reported to be from Tunisia followed by Saudi Arabia.

The Western countries have been reluctant in committing more fully to the war against ISIS. Their contribution has been mostly composed of air strikes and providing support to the local regional forces. However, as the days go by, it becomes more evident that the current military operations are not enough to address the ISIS threat. What else can be done?

The airstrikes against ISIS pale in comparison to the bombing campaign against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In 2001, the United States alone used 17,500 munitions and conducted 6,500 airstrikes against the Taliban in a period of seventy-five days whereas only 1,700 munitions were spent and 632 strike sorties were conducted against ISIS in a span of seventy-six days in 2014. These limited bombing episodes will not budge a militant group as fanatical as ISIS.

Ground forces from Western countries have had limited participation in the fight against ISIS. This affects the accuracy of the airstrikes as well as the combat abilities of the local fighting force. It is undeniable that the military training provided by experienced combat advisors to the indigenous troops is invaluable. However, it has already been proven in various conflicts in history that seasoned military advisors are better off fighting together with local troops in the battlefield than being confined in military bases.

Western countries should also consider increasing the size of their forces against ISIS. The numbers of troops that should be dispatched on the field should be based on what is actually needed in battle and not on theories. Logistical, security, intelligence, and air contingents should also be made available as support.

The Western countries should also try to take a page out of ISIS?s book when it comes to strategy. If ISIS aims to consolidate local jihadist groups in a certain region to increase the effectiveness of its operations, then Western countries should also cooperate with moderate factions in Syria and Iraq. They should increase the support that they are giving to the local troops who are fighting ISIS.

It would also be better if the Western countries would show more commitment towards removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power. Turkey views Assad as the cause of instability in Syria and will only join the war against ISIS if his government is overthrown. Thus, ousting Assad from his position will not only convince Turkey to join in battle but it will also dispel the rumors among Sunni tribes that Assad is not backed by any Western country.

Designating a no-fly zone over all of Syria may also help in battling ISIS. This policy will prevent other groups from bombing opposition centers under the guise of anti-ISIS campaign. It will also prevent other groups from misinterpreting the military actions of Western countries as a war against Muslims.

In 2007, the tables were turned against the al-Qaeda in Iraq when the Sunni tribes turned against them. If the Western countries will be able to convince Iraqi Sunnis to do the same to ISIS, then the chances of defeating the militant group may increase. It would be almost impossible to expel ISIS from its strongholds as long as the Sunni tribes do not resist them. On the other hand, if the tribes are mobilized against ISIS then there is a better chance of defeating the militant group.

Adopting these strategies would most probably require Western countries to increase their expenses. However, when compared to the damage in property and lives that the ISIS has caused, the additional expenses required to stop them are worth it.

Using Non-Military Tactics

Aside from increasing war efforts in the battlefield, Western countries can also defeat ISIS through other means. Just like how the militant group utilized several propagandas to recruit people and further their cause, Western countries can also do the same to stop the group?s operations.

Declaring that it aims to establish an Islamist utopia has certainly helped the militant group gain supporters and followers. For the past years, numerous people have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the ranks of ISIS fighters. Jihadist movements in other places have also pledged their allegiance to ISIS, which further strengthened the group?s network.

To prevent ISIS from gaining more supporters, it is crucial that the truth regarding the group?s activities be exposed. This can be done by encouraging former members of ISIS to tell their stories to the public. By telling their personal experiences, they will be able to dissuade other people from joining the group better than an outsider who never have been a part of ISIS.

ISIS has also created an illusion that life in areas under their control is better than anywhere else by attempting to restore public order. However, the truth is that food and electrical shortages are common in these places ever since ISIS conquered them. Helping opposition groups uncover these truths and make them public will help people in realizing that ISIS is not a functioning state but an oppressing force.

It would also be better if the activities of individuals against ISIS such as former jihadist Mubin Shaikh and Imam Mohamed Magid be recognized. They have made personal efforts to dissuade people who have been recruited by ISIS from joining the group. This may encourage other people to follow suit and help in reducing the manpower of ISIS.

ISIS has continually utilized social media platforms such as Twitter to promote their propaganda and recruit people to join their ranks. Thus, it is vital to put pressure on social media companies to aid in the fight against the group by taking down accounts used by ISIS members and supporters alike. This will prevent ISIS propaganda from spreading to other countries and reduce their chances of recruiting foreign fighters.

Turkey?s efforts to restrain the flow of foreign fighters travelling through their territory should be recognized more. This may encourage them to participate more in the fight against ISIS as well as encourage other nearby countries to do the same.

Governments should also consider to give captured ISIS recruits with a more lenient punishment if they have no history of violence. For instance, ISIS recruits who have been arrested as they were attempting to join the group may end up spending up to 15 years in prison in the US regardless if they have committed violent acts or not. As a result, families and friends are forced to choose between stopping these recruits from radicalizing and sending them to prison or letting them go and risk having them killed in battle.

Instead of spending long terms in prison, these recruits can be placed under supervised probation for a specific amount of time. Reducing the punishment for recruits with no records of violence may encourage their families and friends to cooperate with authorities and prevent them from joining ISIS.

Proper information dissemination should be conducted by authorities to make sure that Muslims are informed about ISIS?s activities. This may help in discouraging people from joining or supporting the group. For instance, refuting ISIS?s claim of being the defender of Islam and emphasizing the fact that most of their victims are also Muslims will prevent other people from being misled by the group?s enticing propaganda.

If backed by a well-coordinated military offensive, these strategies will surely weaken and defeat ISIS.